Is Gale Sayers #38 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1966 Philadelphia · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Gale Sayers #38 sells for $20,465 against $133 raw: a $20,332 spread, 154× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($18,658) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $133
- PSA 10
- $20,465
- PSA 9
- $18,658
- Gem premium
- 154×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $20,465 | +$20,307 | +$20,282 | +$20,182 |
| PSA 9 | $18,658 | +$18,500 | +$18,475 | +$18,375 |
| PSA 8 | $2,044 | +$1,886 | +$1,861 | +$1,761 |
Net = sale price − $133 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $19,109 | +$18,927 |
| 50% | $19,561 | +$19,378 |
| 75% | $20,013 | +$19,830 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $26,605 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $20,465 | −$6,140 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $12,279 | −$14,326 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $12,279 | −$14,326 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $20,465 | $12,279 | $26,605 | $12,279 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $20,056 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $18,658 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $2,044 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $900 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1966 Philadelphia cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Green Bay Packers [Team Card] #79 1966 Philadelphia card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/iPEAAeSw0Ylp3Zzg/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Gale Sayers #38 — FAQ
Is Gale Sayers #38 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Gale Sayers #38 sells for $20,465 against $133 raw: a $20,332 spread, 154× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($18,658) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Gale Sayers #38 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Gale Sayers #38 (Football Cards 1966 Philadelphia) sells for about $20,465 versus $133 for a raw near-mint copy — a 154× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Gale Sayers #38?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $26,605, ahead of PSA 10 at $20,465. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Gale Sayers #38 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free